This game didn’t draw my attention during the E3 and I simply filed it in the category of “Doom 3 clones”. I couldn’t be more wrong.

I just watched the 184Mb – 11Min video of *gameplay* and my jaw dropped on the floor. And I’m definitely not one of those guys that gets excited at random FPS. When I heard about it the first time I was already doubtful about the “portal” system they were developing. Just because I know how these features are usually used here and there as “quirks” and without never impacting the actual game that ultimately remains a shooter between a few corridors. I heard that the monsters can use these portals as well and I already expected this feature just like an excuse to have mobs pop-in at random. Something that I always felt irritating.

This is completely wrong for Prey and I can already say just by watching that video that this is NOT the usual shooter with zero innovation and offering the exact same gameplay over and over. The game truly becomes a nightmare coming from Escher. It’s crazy. The graphic is simply breathaking and the levels and the environments have finally a true 3D depth that we’ve never seen before. If you go download the video you’ll understand what I mean.

The game doesn’t develop anymore just on a flat, horizontal floor but allows you to walk on the walls and on the ceiling, offering *at the same time* and in the same room completely different perspectives and gravity systems (there are levels that *literally* flip upside down all at the sudden). Perspectives that are then multiplied by the insane portal system that blends together completely different worlds (the monsters are aware of them and jump through them smoothly). The weapons already look totally crazy, the monsters are wonderful and definitely original in their aspect and in their way to attack (and finally even the animations are wonderful). The environment plays an active role in the gameplay, for example there’s a scene with spikes coming out of the floor, limiting the movement in a close combat situation, or another scene on a small “planet” where you have to dodge meteors falling on you (after an insane “spaceship” simulation).

Really, I don’t know how to describe or explain it. I felt like watching in a hole what we could play ten years in the future. While it still has the “look & feel” of the Doom engine, even the most critic players will drool over this. The physical engine, the gravity system and the effects that fill every instant of the game are just unbelievable compared to what I’m used to see. I don’t know on which computer it will run but it could be one of those games that are worth for an upgrade.

You can find the video here. It’s not important if you believe or not what I wrote. Just get it. Even if you do not care at all. Because it’s definitely worth it, from the beginning to the end (the fun actually starts after the first minute).

Believe me. I don’t hype games at random, in particular when they are off my genre. If I’m so much amazed by this one it’s because I saw something truly impressive. Some of my dreams are starting to become concrete.

To conclude a few words from a developer:

Prey will not require a flashlight, and the environments are brighter than how it’s looking in the videos. And yes various other games have shown these tricks before — just as Max Payne wasn’t the first game with slow-motion gameplay — but we feel confident we will do them better, more intuitively, and they will also work in combination with each other. Second Sight, for example, was a horrible implementation of the leave-the-body game mechanic. In Prey, it’s natural, easy, and fun, and comes with great trade-offs (for example, your real body is will take more damage if you’re in “spirit walk” mode).

Prey comes with a *package* of gameplay related hooks that set it apart:
o Spirit walk
o Wall walk
o Portal effects
o Gravity effects
o Death walk (no more “Game Over”)

(Most FPS games claim maybe one new thing to set it apart.)

Not to mention a unique, emotional story that will hopefully make you care about the action and making progress.

Scott Miller
3D Realms

This masterpiece is also supposed to be available directly online in a similar way to what happened with Half-Life 2 (but through a different network instead of Steam).

Prior to its commercial release, a demonstration version of Prey will be available exclusively online powered by Game xStream. Once in commercial release, gamers will have the ability to immediately purchase the game online through Game xStream.

Prey is the first online game release and distribution through Game xStream for 3D Realms, and represents an important advance in how it will release games in the future. Game xStream was developed to enable game publishing companies to offer graphic intensive games, like Prey, for play and distribution online. With dynamic streaming and low-delay interaction, any triple-A rated title can now be delivered in real time over a broadband connection, and with absolutely no developer support required.

Let’s hope that even this part goes smoothly and that it’s maintained accessible even without the broadband.